Strategy isn’t one of the five fundamentals leaders must use in AR 350-1, so focus on Move, Communicate, and Sustain.

Five Fundamentals under AR 350-1: Why Strategy Isn’t One of Them

Let’s start with a simple, sometimes surprising truth. In Army Training and Leader Development, there’s a clear list leaders study and apply every day. It centers on how a unit actually moves, talks, and stays fueled—on the ground, in real time. Strategy sits nearby, but it isn’t counted among the five basic fundamentals that drive day-to-day execution. If you’re looking at a multiple-choice question like A Move, B Communicate, C Strategy, D Sustain, the right answer is Strategy. Not because strategy isn’t important, but because these fundamentals focus on the here-and-now: the actions you take to keep a mission moving forward.

Let me explain what these fundamentals are, and why Strategy lands where it does.

What are the five fundamentals, really?

Think of the fundamentals as the essential habits you put in place to ensure a unit can operate smoothly. They’re about how the team physically gets around, stays connected, and keeps the mission supported from behind the lines. The three you probably recognize—Move, Communicate, and Sustain—are the backbone. They cover the core functions that must work in real time under stress.

• Move: This isn’t just “getting from A to B.” It’s about positioning units effectively, choosing routes, timing movements to reduce risk, and ensuring soldiers and vehicles are where they need to be when they need to be there. It’s a dance of tempo, terrain, and timing.

• Communicate: Clear, reliable communication is the thread that ties actions together. It means orders that resonate, feedback loops that confirm understanding, and redundancy so a single failure doesn’t derail the plan. In practice, it’s not just radios or hand signals; it’s disciplined communication at every level, with everyone knowing what success looks like.

• Sustain: Logistics, maintenance, medical support, and resupply—sustainment keeps the operation alive. Think of the convoy that arrives with fuel and parts at the exact moment they’re needed, or the maintenance crew that gets a fleet back in fighting shape after a hard day. Sustainment is the glue that prevents heat from breaking the chain.

And then there are two other fundamentals that round out the set. They’re often described as execution-focused elements that complement the big three above. Rather than naming them as easily digestible labels here, it’s helpful to think of them as the two halves of turning plans into action: readiness and coordination of effort. In other words, how you prepare to act and how you synchronize everyone’s actions so the unit moves as one. These two pieces aren’t about grand concepts; they’re about doing things right in the moment—every step, every link in the chain, every rifle barrel, every wheel turning.

Why Strategy isn’t one of the five basics

Strategy lives in the planning room, with maps, intent, and long-haul aims. It’s about why you’re doing something, not necessarily how you do it. The five fundamentals, by design, focus on what you and your team do in the field to keep operations moving, communicating, and sustaining themselves—without getting bogged down in the higher-order choices that define campaigns or major operations.

Here’s a quick mental model: Strategy asks, “What should we do, and why does it matter?” The fundamentals answer, “How do we do it right now, and how do we keep it going?” You need both, of course, but they live in different circles. When you’re in the heat of the moment, you lean on Move, Communicate, and Sustain to execute. Strategy sits with the planners who outline the intent and sequencing, then hands the baton to the boots on the ground to carry it out.

A real-world lens: what these fundamentals look like in action

Picture a squad threading through a city block, cameras and night-vision portholes glittering in the dark. Move is about choosing a route that minimizes exposure while keeping the squad’s momentum. The soldiers watch corners, adjust speed, and maintain spacing so no one’s left alone in a doorway.

Meanwhile, Communications isn’t just about radios. It’s about a shared language—verbal, visual, and procedural—that ensures orders land accurately. If a radio glitches, the team has hand signals and a pre-arranged fallback. If a checkpoint is compromised, the chain of command knows how to adapt without chaos. Clear communication reduces hesitation, which translates into safer, swifter action.

Sustainment shows up in the background like a steady heartbeat. A maintenance crew keeps vehicles rolling despite rough terrain. Medics stand ready, keeping wounds from becoming tragedies. Food, water, batteries—these supplies aren’t glamorous, but they’re essential. When sustainment falters, the entire operation frays at the edges; when it runs smoothly, the team can push forward with confidence.

And those two other fundamentals? They’re the often-unsung gears that make the machine work. Readiness is about ensuring every soldier, vehicle, and tool is prepared for the task at hand. It’s the pre-mattle checks, the quick briefs, the training that makes responses feel almost automatic. Coordination is about stitching every moving part together—platoon, squad, fire teams—so actions align, timing matches, and the whole force acts as a single organism.

How you can translate this into everyday leadership

If you’re stepping into a role where you’ll lead people in dynamic environments, here are some practical takeaways that keep you focused on the essentials.

• Build the rhythm of movement. Before you move, know why you’re moving, where you’re going, and what could block you. Practice simple drills that improve route planning, terrain understanding, and risk assessment. Movement isn’t reckless speed; it’s deliberate tempo designed to preserve force.

• Tighten the chain of command in speech. In any operation, the message you send is the message you get back. Short, precise orders, confirmed understanding, and a habit of asking for feedback can save lives and time. If something feels off, say it. Tools help, but clear thinking saves the day.

• Plan with your team, then execute with your team. The two extra fundamentals are a reminder that readiness and coordination aren’t abstract concepts; they’re daily acts. Run quick checks, assign responsibilities, and practice together. When everyone knows their role, plans become fluid action.

• Respect sustainment as a core discipline. It’s tempting to focus on the flashy parts of a mission, but if the supply line is dry, all the bravado in the world won’t matter. Build simple, reliable routines for resupply, maintenance, and medical readiness. Small, consistent efforts prevent big disruptions.

• Embrace the tension between fundamentals and strategy. Strategy guides longer-term aims, but the fundamentals are what keep you usable in the moment. You don’t ignore strategy; you balance it with disciplined execution. The trick is knowing when to stay with the basics and when to pause for a strategic rethink.

A few practical tips to keep your leadership sharp

• Cultivate situational awareness. The five fundamentals are easier to apply when you keep a check on what’s happening around you—terrain, weather, equipment status, and people’s morale.

• Use after-action reflection as a learning tool. After a movement or a mission segment, pause to answer: What worked? What didn’t? Where did communication break down? What could we do differently next time? Short debriefs keep the momentum healthy.

• Practice simple checklists. A four-item or five-item checklist can become second nature, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks. For example: Is movement planned? Is communication clear? Is sustainment secured? Are readiness and coordination aligned? If you can answer yes, you’re likely in good shape to proceed.

• Stay adaptable without losing discipline. Real life rarely matches the plan perfectly. The fundamentals give you a sturdy framework, while strategy provides the sense of direction to adapt without chaos.

Connecting the dots: why this matters beyond the field

This isn’t just about military drills or a classroom understanding. The idea of fundamentals—doing the right things well, consistently, in the heat of the moment—has a broader appeal. In any team environment, moving people and resources efficiently, keeping everyone in the loop, and ensuring ongoing support are universal challenges. The same principles show up in disaster response, large-scale projects, or even community organizing. The difference is the stakes and the scale; the same discipline that moves a squad through an urban avenue can help a city plan a relief corridor after a flood.

If you’re curious about where AR 350-1 sits in the bigger picture, think of it as a guide for turning strategic intent into reliable, repeatable action. Strategy asks the bigger questions, but the five fundamentals are the practical staircase you climb every day. You don’t skip steps. You feel more confident when you know you’ve got your moves, your messages, and your supply lines lined up.

A closing thought

The takeaway is simple, even if the concepts feel a bit abstract at first glance. Strategy matters, yes, but it’s the five fundamentals—the core ways leaders and teams function on the ground—that keep a unit effective under pressure. Move to the right places at the right times. Speak clearly so your people understand and act decisively. Keep things supplied, repaired, and ready to roll. And stay mindful of those two other execution-focused essentials that ensure readiness and coordination live in harmony with action.

If you’re guiding a team or training with an eye toward leadership development, framing your approach around these basics can create a strong, dependable foundation. When the moment comes to elevate the plan, you’ll already know how to move, how to talk, and how to keep the whole system alive and working together. And that’s the core of practical leadership in any setting.